China Dolls

Album: Jubilee Road (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Tom Odell was thinking a lot about family when he wrote his Jubilee Road album, and he had plenty of recollections from his childhood. One of his memories was a vague one of some china dolls that used to live in his grandma's spare bathroom. With their devilish eyes and Snow White skin, they used to terrify him. He recalled to The Sun:

    "I think one night on Jubilee Road by imagination went a bit crazy, with them and I began imagining a sort of random scenario, where they came to life and got a bit out of control."

    Odell added that he's "not entirely sure what the song is about. That's something the case with songwriting, you just let the words flow out and let listeners find their own meaning."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")Songwriter Interviews

Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."